Lynn Kaufelt accepts the Golden Mango Award from her home during The Studios of Key West’s 2021 Virtual Patron Brunch. Credit: Jackson Kaufelt

Arts Advocate and Patron Lynn Kaufelt Presented with 2021 Golden Mango Award

Lifelong Arts Supporter Has Contributed Greatly to Key West Arts and Service Organizations

[Key West, FL.]—The Studios of Key West is pleased to announce Lynn Kaufelt as the recipient of this year’s Golden Mango Award. Presented annually to an outstanding leader who has benefitted Key West through significant contributions to the Arts, Kaufelt was recognized during The Studios of Key West’s Annual Patron Brunch on January 6, held this year as a virtual event.

The Golden Mango Award was established in 2015 to recognize persons who make aesthetic, social, intellectual, and philanthropic contributions to our island arts community and its reputation as a center for the arts. Each year, the recipient of the award is presented with a striking contemporary sculpture designed by artist Helen Harrison.

“Lynn has such style and humor she makes it all seem easy,” says Executive Director Jed Dodds, “but she’s like Zelig. She’s been everywhere in this cultural community for years – often in leading roles, and always supportive. Every single one of us has benefited from the work she’s done.”

Kaufelt has worked tirelessly to support Monroe County arts and service organizations over the years. After moving to Key West with her son Jackson and her late husband David, Lynn quickly became active in many community organizations; she has served as President of Key West Art and Historical Society, as a Founding Director of the Tennessee Williams Fine Art Center Founding Society, and as the first Executive Director of the renowned Key West Literary Seminar, which was founded in 1983 by her husband David.

Kaufelt has also served as a fundraiser, mentor, and public advocate for Take Stock in Children. She helped establish a base of operations for Wesley House in 1997, and went on to help develop Wesley House’s popular Valentine’s Day silent auction.

Lynn has been instrumental in helping to build The Studios of Key West into the beacon of cultural activity that it is today. Involved since the organization’s inception, Lynn was one of the four original founding board members of Pebbles, the organization that evolved into The Studios. Since then, she has served on the Board of Directors of The Studios and currently chairs the organization’s Advisory Board.

The Studios of Key West has presented a Golden Mango Award to an individual or couple for the past six years. Prior recipients include Judy and Stanley Zabar (2015), Ann and Bill Lorraine (2016), Anne McKee (2017), John Martini (2018), Judy Blume and George Cooper (2019) and Christopher Peterson (2020).

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